Summer Camp Guide 2012

Kids today are growing up in a pretty wacky world: electronic thingummies stuck in their ears, frankenfood in their lunch boxes, Rick Santorum hanging vulture-like over their puberty. All of which are good reasons to treat your child to a summer of innocent delights after school's out.

And what's cool is that you may not have to decimate the family budget to do it. (After all, one of my most powerful summertime memories is blowing grape soda out of my nose — a very low-cost pursuit.) A number of places listed in this guide offer scholarship/sliding scale/discount offerings, if you just remember to ask.

What you'll find here is a panoply of possibilities for rockers, chefs, princesses, magicians, farmers and all the blessed science nerds, of virtually all ages. And while we tried to salt the thing with the widest possible array of options, we know there are some we missed, and others (read: most religious and sports camps) for which we just didn't have space. If you know of a fine kidfest we didn't include, please e-mail newsroom@csindy.com or post a comment on the online version of this story.

But wait! Before we cannonball in, we'd like to offer a small gift for the "left behind," the parents who go on working while the darling fruit of their loins indulges in water-balloon fights and s'mores. It's a reprise of last year's gift ... because we love it ... because nothing will ever top it ... and because you should listen to it once a year as summer approaches: "The Lanyard" by Billy Collins (tinyurl.com/56sopv).

D-20's summer programs are designed for students in grades pre-K through 12. Beyond intervention and credit-recovery classes, there will be themed adventures, summer band, computer programming and outdoor education at School in the Woods. Detailed program descriptions will be available the week of April 2; register online starting April 12.

Students from 4 to 19 can explore the elements of theatre through fun teaching, creative improvisations, and preparing and performing a production. Camp options include acting, musical theatre, stage makeup and stage combat, and advanced scene study.

Certified instructors lead small groups in warm-ups and safety demos, followed by new skateboard skills and tricks. Those 4 and older can sign up for day camp at the Memorial Park Skateboard Park, and skateboarders 11 to 17 can head out for overnight camps in Denver and mountain locales.

Instructors from Bemis School of Art and the FAC Theatre Company will work with children ages 6 to 11 at this day camp in the wild forest surrounding La Foret Conference and Retreat Center. Campers will experiment with artistic styles and techniques, exploring composition and design, and develop acting skills through theatre games, improvisation and mime.

Since 1946 this residential camp for ages 7 to 16 has offered up the best of summer, with horseback riding, trout fishing, nature study, campouts, swimming, hiking, canoeing, ropes course, drama, arts and crafts and more.

In their 30th year, Cal-Wood offers residential camps for ages 9 to 18, including Leadership Camp, Wildlands Skills Camp and Adventure in the Mountains, which teaches participants to fish using fly and reel, identify tracks and shoot a bow and arrow. Programs for various age groups: primitive skills, low and high ropes, shooting sports, forest ecology and leadership training.

Camp Comfort is a bereavement camp that offers a way for children ages 6 to 12 to explore feelings of grief and share memories of loved ones through activities led by licensed social workers. Of course, the camp also offers swimming, horseback riding, fishing, and arts and crafts. Scholarships are available.

Led by local educators, the June 4-8 camp will immerse elementary schoolchildren in hands-on learning disguised as fun summer activities. Children will navigate an island in hand-crafted upcycled ships, become inventors, and explore connections between science, technology, engineering and innovation. Discounts are available.

Vocalists, guitarists, bassists, drummers and keyboardists will work on everything from playing techniques to stage presence to music videos at Camp Jam, where the motto is "No Canoes, Lots of Rock." This overnight camp for musicians from 11 to 17 runs from July 22 to 28 at CU-Boulder.

Camp Timberline is a Christian camp, with sessions for boys and girls ages 7 to 18. Sports and other activities include basketball, football, lacrosse, golf, volleyball, soccer, arts and crafts, and dance, as well as hiking and mountain adventure.

This is the second summer for day camp fun at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. From June through early August, kids entering grades 1 to 6 can enjoy week-long themed camps that foster respect for animals, encourage compassionate and responsible actions, cultivate knowledge and offer hands-on experiences with all kinds of critters.

The center offers a space-oriented educational environment where kids learn about rocketry and fly simulated space missions. This summer there are 10 programs for young people entering grades 1 to 12, including Robonauts, Toys in Space, Moonbase Crisis and Lego Robotics 1 and 2.

Cheley Colorado Camps

Estes Park, 303/377-3616 through May 15, then 970/586-4244, cheley.com

This July 16-20 day camp at Starsmore Discovery Center is titled "H2O, Go! Discover the Power of Water." Kids 8 to 12 will go wild and get wet as they learn how water influences every aspect of life in the Cañon. Campers will also perform water experiments, play games and create crafts.

The zoo has a truly splendid lineup of summer camp opportunities for young people ages 4 to 14, from half-day to two weeks. Our favorite is the Noctural Night Club for kids 7 to 11: Campers will stay in the zoo two nights in a row, learning about nocturnal animalsand identifying constellations. Other camps include Animals Got Talent, Junior Zookeeper, Expedition Ecosystem and What's for Dinner?

CityROCK offers indoor and outdoor camps for adventurous children ages 3 and up. Indoor Climbing Camp helps kids to learn climbing basics and expand their skills, and Outdoor Climbing Camp for kids ages 10 and older teaches them how to belay, top-rope, rappel and boulder. New this summer is the two-week Play Camp, with all of the activities that define summer camp.

Sign up for any or all of these nine, week-long camps from the CC Children's Center. Kids from 6 (first grade) to 12 will enjoy field trips, swimming, ice skating, reading, movies, games, sports, and arts and crafts.

Children entering grades 1 to 6 participate in three weeks of courses and activities that challenge their intellectual and creative talents. The 2012 application deadline has passed, but call after April 15 to check for late application availability; 2013 registration begins in January.

Cheerleading Camp (ages 7 to 13); City Tykes Cheerleading Camp (4 to 6); Brilliant Kids Elite Cheer (13 and younger); Young Stars Day Camp (6 to 13); June Bug 3-On-3 Basketball League (10 and younger); Jump City Basketball (8 to 15); Little Quarterbacks Camp (4 to 6); and First Down Football Camp (8 to 12).

Ten week-long sessions for ages 9 to 17 include such themes as: Foods From the Mediterranean, Cake Creations and Small Bites, Yeast Breads, and Foods From China. The last day of each camp features a cooking competition.

Plans are in the works for weeklong classes — mornings, afternoons or all day — for ages 8 to 12 and 13 to 19. Activities will include watercolor, acrylics, stained glass, fused glass, jewelry making and clay. Watch the website for schedule updates, or e-mail classes@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com.

Crow Canyon runs one-week camps for middle school and high school students, who work on excavations with archaeologists, study artifacts and participate in lively discussions. A three-week intensive field school is available for high school-age students. Full scholarships are available.

This Christian summer camp runs a variety of programs for ages 8 to 18, focused on Christ-centered love and commitment through friendships with counselors and outdoor experiences. There are also day camps at Glen Eyrie for kids ages 7 to 12, offering outdoor activities, field trips along the Front Range, sports, arts and crafts, plus Bible lessons and more.

All children up to age 14 are welcome in these literacy-based programs that include fun field trips and great activities. There are multiple locations across the city to help working families with summer childcare, as well as a sliding fee scale.

Offering day camp for kids 3 and older and three-day camps for ages 8 and up on a working, sustainable, off-grid farm. Earth Mountain promotes self-empowerment, social consciousness and stewardship. Children will live in tipi lodges, play environmental education games, test their skills on challenge courses and be part of daily farm activities, from cooking on the wood stove to natural building projects.

This fully accessible residential camp serves people ages 6 and up who have physical and developmental disabilities. Camp activities include horseback riding, swimming, arts and crafts, music, drama, sports, fishing and riding the zipline. Scholarships are available.

County Parks offers summer day camps June through early August for kids entering grades 1 to 8, including naturalist-led hikes, discovery time in the woods, hands-on activities, crafts, a T-shirt, camp photo, songs, games and more. There are special "Rites of Passage" activities for sixth-graders. Discounts and scholarships are available.

Held at the Air Force Academy, these camps welcome athletes ages 8 to 18 in training for baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse and more. Boys and girls can commute to the Academy or stay on campus if they are 12 or older.

First Presbyterian hosts a number of camps for kids entering grades K to 8. Programs include a music and drama camp, a primary day camp for grades K to 2, as well as overnight out-of-town camps for grades 3 to 8. Scholarships available.

This private, college-prep high school offers an assortment of programs for young people 9 to 18 in June and July, including outdoor adventure at the school's Mountain Campus, soccer, tennis, philanthropy and horseback riding.

For 100 years Girl Scout camp has delivered summer fun and outdoor adventure at an affordable price. There are three- to 12-day residential camps in the mountains for ages 6 to 17, and you don't have to be a Girl Scout to participate. Discounts are available for new campers, and transportation is available to select overnight camp sessions.

These wilderness-based courses for girls and teens ages 8 to 18 include activities like rock climbing, backpacking, outdoor skills and expressive arts in a "girl-positive" program designed to build leadership skills, confidence and friendships. Four- to 12-day courses are offered as well as a day camp for girls ages 9 to 11. Full and partial scholarships are available.

This private preschool near Powers Boulevard and Research Parkway offers summer camps for young children through age 8, featuring storytellers, magicians, musicians, special guests and field trips. School Readiness Camp, for ages 5 to 10, is a curriculum program designed to prepare children for kindergarten and first through third grades.

These coed day and residential camps for ages 7 to 18 are for beginners and advanced learners, and are held at CSU and DU. Campers can explore iPhone app development, Flash animation, video editing, programming, web design, robotics and more. The brand-new Gaming Academy, for teens only, provides an intensive experience in video game development. There are also Ultimate Gaming Weekends to keep techies occupied between week-long camps.

Residential one- and multi-week camps for kids entering grades 2 through 10 offer the true outdoor ranch experience: horseback riding, mountain biking, camping and backpacking, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, music and nature programming. The camp is a celebration of Jewish values (campers do not have to be Jewish), focusing on the essence of being a good person and taking better care of the world.

Day camps for ages 5 to 15 include Zumba, Red Cross swimming lessons, ice skating, bowling and mini-golf, plus day trips to places like the Pioneers Museum, Olympic Training Center and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. There is a focus on literacy-based enrichment, but also a lot of hands-on fun.

Themed residential Discovery Camps for ages 4½ to 13 blend science with adventure in a traditional camp setting. This year's themes include dinosaurs, Colorado ecology, and astronomy. Expedition-based programs for ages 12 to 17 feature camping along wild rivers, learning about fire ecology and alpine weather and more, and there's also a counselor assistant program. Keystone's new Legacy Camp in late August is for children and teens dealing with losses in their immediate family.

KinderCare offers week-long summer camps for preschool, pre-kindergarten and school-aged children. There is a new theme every week, including sports, art and science. See the website for more information.

Week-long morning and afternoon camps for ages 8 to 13 will be located at various venues around town throughout the summer. Kids learn through building, problem solving, teamwork and creativity and experiment with gears, motors, pulleys and levers.

MyPlace, for D-38 kids entering grades 1 to 6, runs 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or fewer hours, if you like) and includes swimming, field trips, arts and crafts, and weekly themes. Learning Points is open to kids living in or outside the district who are entering grades K to 12 (adults, too). These short camps include drama, music, driver's ed, fine arts, film study, tie dye and more.

The library summer program will encourage children from preschool to fifth grade to build on their reading skills while competing and having fun. This summer's activities will include storytellers and guest speakers; call or check the website for updated information. Programs are free to visitors and Manitou Springs residents alike.

Growing Children, Growing Gardens is a literacy-based day camp in June for elementary-school kids (you don't have to live in the district to participate). Campers will spend their mornings journaling, working in the garden, poking bugs and making crafts. In June and July, the Manitou Springs Arts Academy will offer interdisciplinary arts programming for elementary- and middle-school-age students (open to all kids in the region) as a cooperative effort with the district. Check the website for more details and activities.

Their Saturday afternoon Yoga for Kids program will continue through the summer. Featuring Shylee the Yoga Faerie, these "movement, music and magic" sessions are for kids 3 to 8. There may be more kid-friendly activities on offer, so watch the website.

The MAT offers one- and two-week theatre camps for kids 4 through the teens. Themes include If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Outer Space Adventures, Seuss on the Loose, Circus Camp and Shakespeare in the Park. Professionals teach each small group of campers to bring stories and characters to life, fostering imaginative exploration and creative problem solving.

Affordable multicultural, one-week day camps for grades pre-K to 6 begin in June and are held in the museum's new permanent exhibit, "4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks." Teaching artists will focus on visual arts, theater, photography, music, movement, storytelling, puppetry and more.

Camps for kids entering grades 3 to 9 include Adventure and Wonders of Nature day camps; Survival Camp; Mountain Adventure Camp; Camp Mission: Wolf; Backpack Camp; Mountain Pathways and Birds & the Bees (both for girls); and Mountain Man Discovery (for boys). Their Counselor-in-Training program is for kids entering grades 9 to 12, and Little Kids Camp is a day camp for children entering grades K to 2.

They call them "free range children's camps" because they all include plenty of unstructured outdoor time. Week-long day camps for kids age 4 through sixth grade include Knee-high Naturalists, Nature Players, Raptor Camp, and Fort and Shelter Building in the Wild. There is also a Girl Scout camp. Scholarships are available.

The National Military Family Association offers a free, one-week camp for children (ages 7 to 17) of deployed, uniformed service members. The association also offers free, four-day family retreats year-round at national parks for military families whose service member has recently returned from deployment.

These adventure-based camps are designed for young people ages 6 to 15. Activities include rock climbing, mountain biking and whitewater rafting. A 10-day coed camp for ages 11 to 15 features a high and low ropes course, mountain ascents and Leave No Trace environmental education.

Sponsored by the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, Peace Camp immerses kids from 6 to 13 in the basics of peace, justice and sustainability. The July 16-20 day camp lets children choose projects focusing on Peace With Self, Peace With Neighbors, Peace With the Earth, Peace With the World and Becoming Peace Builders. The last evening is an overnight campout. Youths from 14 to 18 can join the Counselors-in-Training team, learning to mentor the younger ones.

There will be programs for babies to 18-year-olds, including the annual reading game for younger readers, magic shows, animal visitors, crafts programs, games and performers. "Own the Night" is this summer's teen theme, and there will be movie nights, a skate night at Skate City, and other nocturnal activities involving zombies, the paranormal, murder mysteries and more.

During two (maybe three) storytelling programs for kids 3 to 7, local children's authors Sally Burr and Gail Ross of EverAfter Stories will read a story, then lead a short nature hike that will make the story come alive. Afterwards, the kids will supplement their lunch with fresh veggies picked right from the garden. Visit the website for more information, and register online after April 30. On Saturday mornings starting in June, take your children down to Harlan Wolfe Ranch, 907 W. Cheyenne Road, where you can wander through the organic vegetable garden, nibbling and tasting as you go.

This is a four-day camp in July teaching all things stage, with courses on improvisation, auditioning, tap dancing, ballet for musical theater, and script analysis. The camp is aimed at students entering grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12.

This summer's four, week-long zoo camps for kids entering grades 1 to 4 have themes ranging from Meet Me at the Zoo to Become a Myth Buster. These day camps feature crafts, games and visits with the animals.

Weekend workday adventures in Garden of the Gods, along Fountain Creek and on Pikes Peak are open to those 16 and older, or 13 and older if accompanied by a parent volunteer. Participants will restore damaged and overused land, repair trails, and bring some of the Peak's wetlands back to life. See the website or call for more information on these programs and others that may become available.

This Mennonite overnight camp is open to those entering grades 3 to 12. Family camps also are available. Activities include nature study, arts and crafts, hiking and volleyball, to be enjoyed while encouraging holistic Christian growth. Scholarships are available.

Since 1948, Sanborn has emphasized personal growth, independence and adventure in the high peaks of Colorado. Dates run from June through August, in 15-day camps for children entering grades 2 to 5, or month-long camps for those entering grades 3 to 10.

This summer's Once Upon a Time in Art summer camps for those entering grades 1 to 12 are week-long sessions — attend one or all seven, half- or full-day — featuring theater, movement, music, and visual arts, including pottery and photography. There will also be one-day sampler camps during the week of July 4. The themes, integrated with Buell Children's Museum's celebration of the Brothers Grimm, include Lords, Ladies and Dragons; A Week in the Woods; Bugs, Frogs and Slimy Things; and Critter Kingdom. Scholarships are available.

Sky High is a free camp for kids with cancer, ages 8 to 18, and their siblings (if space is available). Activities at the July 8-14 camp include nature study, arts and crafts, skits and music, canoeing, fishing, rafting, archery, rock climbing and a ropes course.

This Christian camp offers outdoor adventures for families and middle- and high-school groups in the Rocky Mountains. Family activities include horseback riding, kayaking, a high-ropes course, and day and night programs. Backpacking camps for youth groups feature multi-day back-country trips.

From June 25-29, Nancy Andrew and Teri Rose will lead "low-pressure," participation-oriented activities at a location to be determined. From 9 a.m. to noon, it's students grades 8-12; from 1:30 to 4:30, adult amateurs. No auditions required.

Trampoline World offers full-day camps for kids 5 to 12 at all ability levels, including beginners. Campers will be cross-trained for power tumbling and trampoline and thoroughly challenged through esteem-building activities. Also on offer is a coach-in-training program for ages 13 to 15.

For kids 6 to 11, the Center offers daily field trips to such destinations as Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Fountain Creek Nature Center, as well as pleasure reading, art, science, cooking and computers. Financial aid is available.

This program, which includes summer learning, is designed to build study skills and an academic foundation for middle- and high school-students who will be first-generation college students. Participants must meet the program's criteria.

Proceeding from the belief that "nerd is the new cool," the STEM center offers three weekly (half- and full-day) camps. STEM by Me, with a new theme each week, is for students entering grades 3 to 5. Jumpstart STEM, for students entering grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12, will work in the university's labs to solve an Olympic mystery. FLITE campers (same grade levels as Jumpstart) will dig deeper, experimenting with wearable electronics, rockets, microbiology and more.

The NULITES program helps middle school and high school students prepare for college, work and life, and meets every other Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. While you're there, ask about the Urban League's "I am Empowered" campaign.

VOC projects and programs get kids 8 and older involved in caring for and preserving the state's natural places. Youth opportunities run from the family-friendly variety to Youth Stewardship With a Team (SWAT) projects and the ongoing Cairn Youth Program for high school students. Check the website for this year's projects for kids and adults.

These Monday-through-Thursday morning camps for ages 7 to 16 foster development of self-confidence, dexterity, stage presence, creativity and self-motivation. Taught by two professional magicians, the program focuses on magic, illusion and mentalism. Each camp ends with an on-stage recital.

The number and variety of spring break activities for kids seem to be expanding every year. Adventures for spring 2012 range from snowshoeing to baking yeast bread to panning for gold. They're coming up soon, so register ASAP.

Each one-day camp, March 27-29, has its own theme: Shelter Pals, Animal Friends and Humane Heroes. There will be games, crafts, and hands-on time with animals large and small for kids in grades 1 to 6. Participants in the March 31 Critter Careers day for 11- and 12-year-olds will explore careers that involve working with animals, tour the shelter, watch a surgery and meet guest speakers.

This camp, from March 26-30 will focus on the geology of Cheyenne Cañon and Colorado Springs. Campers will hunt for fossils, discover life hidden in layers of the Cañon's walls, make simple tools, pan for gold, hike and enjoy games and lots of hands-on activities. For ages 7 to 12; kids can attend all-day, half-day and individual days.

This is a week of science-based frozen adventure. Learn how animals adapt to cold climates, climb CityRock's indoor "ice" walls, study glaciers and avalanches, master winter emergency survival skills, learn about mountaineering and ice climbing from the pros, and end the session with a snowshoeing trip to Pikes Peak. From March 26-30, for explorers 11 to 14.

This spring's camp, Home Is Where the Habitat Is, features a different theme each day — forest, mountain, savannah, prairie and desert. Campers 6 to 10 can attend the whole week or single days, March 26-30. There will be hands-on lessons with each theme, crafts, up-close-and-personal time with the animals, a snack and a T-shirt.

Fountain Creek's spring break day camp runs March 26-30 for kids in grades 1 to 6. There will be hikes and other outdoor adventures, songs, crafts and snacks, and campers will receive a free T-shirt and group photo. Contact Nancy Bernard at 520-6745 or e-mail nancybernard@elpasoco.com.

During the March 27-30 workshop, children 8 to 12 will explore Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. Campers will discuss geology, handle early rock tools, examine mineral samples, build volcanoes, make paper bird kites and Japanese carp wind socks, do water experiments, and make soap-powered boats and giant bubble wands.

Get your kids out of the classroom and into the wilds with two hands-on day camps: River Camp on March 29 and Raptor Camp on the 30th. Naturalists in grades 3 to 8 will conduct experiments with Arkansas River water, and learn about birds of prey and help care for sick, injured and orphaned raptors. Attend one day or both.

Junior chefs ages 8 to 13 in this March 26-28 afternoon class will create an entrée and dessert for four each day, and make Chicken Parmesan, crispy wontons and cheddar mashers. Come for any or all classes; pay a little more and bring a friend; attend all three and get a gift bag on the last day.

Three days, three great destinations. From March 26 to 28, kids in grades 2 through 5 can expand their minds at the Steelworks Museum (the Science of Steel), Weisbrod Aircraft Museum (the Science of Flight) and the Nature & Raptor Center (the Science of the Arkansas River).

Budding bakers from 9 to 17 will learn to make yeast breads during this March 26-30 program. Campers will prepare a basic yeast dough for pizza, flavored breads, focaccia and more, and use what they have learned in a cooking competition at the end of the week.